Page:Historical Works of Venerable Bede vol. 2.djvu/351

Martian and ValentinianMartian and Valentinian reigned 7 years. A body of Angles or Saxons came to Britain in their ships of war; and on the news of their successful expedition being brought home, a stronger band is sent forth, who,Second arrival of the Saxons joining the former, first attacked and drove out the enemy, and then turning their arms against their allies, reduced by fire and sword nearly all the island, from east to west, on the pretext that the Britons did not give them sufficient pay for their services. John the Baptist reveals to two monks, who had come from the west to Jerusalem to worship, the spot where his head lay, near the dwelling of Herod, formerly the king of the country; they brought it to Emisa, a city of Phœnicia, where due honor was paid it. The Pelagian heresy disturbs the faith of the Britons, who implore help from the Gallic bishops, from whom they receive, as defenders of the faith, Germanus, bishop of the church of Auxerre, and Lupus, of Troyes, equally prelates of apostolical faith. These prelates confirm the Britons in the faith, by the Word of Truth and by miraculous signs: moreover, by miraculous power, they stay the war which at that time the Picts and Scots, with united forces, made against the Britons;Germanus defeats the Picts and Scots for Germanus himself being appointed leader, turns the fierce enemy to flight, not by the sound the of the trumpets, but by the whole army, with uplifted voice, shouting "Alleluia!" Germanus, after this, went to Ravenna, where he was received with the utmost honour by Valentinian and Placidia, and then departed to Christ:Death of Ætius and fall of the Western Empire.[A.D. 476.] his body was buried at Auxerre, with every circumstance of honour, and with the accompaniment of miracles. The Patrician Ætius, the great stay of the western empire,[1] and formerly the terror of